Brisbane man charged with terrorism support offence

This a joint release between the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police.

A 27-year-old Brisbane man is scheduled to appear before Brisbane’s Richlands Magistrates Court today, charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation.

The man was arrested as a result of investigations by the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) into Australians suspected of being members of a terrorist organisation in Syria and Iraq, as well as people in Australia suspected of providing assistance to terrorist organisations.

On Tuesday (21 May 2019), members of the Queensland JCTT – which comprises members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Queensland Police Service and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation – attended an address in Algester.

A 27-year-old was subsequently arrested and charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation, contrary to sections 11.1(1) and 102.7(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.

It will be alleged in court that the Algester man provided video-editing software to a relative who had travelled to the conflict zone and was working for the ‘media unit’ of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist organisation.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney, National Manager Counter Terrorism, said this arrest highlights the strong working relationships between Australia’s law enforcement agencies.

“The AFP is committed to working with national security and law enforcement partners to identify all criminality associated with Australians who illegally travelled to participate in the conflict in Syria and Iraq,” AC McCartney said.

“We will allege that the support this man provided was tangible and would directly assist a terrorist organisation with its objectives.”

Assistant Commissioner Peter Fleming, Security and Counter Terrorism Command said “violent extremists from across the ideological spectrum exploit the online environment to spread propaganda and recruit individuals. The aim of extremists is to divide us and to turn our citizens against each other - but we will not let them win.”

There is no threat to the community in Queensland as a result of this investigation.

The dedicated investigators comprising the Joint Counter Terrorism Teams across Australia continue to work collectively to ensure those threatening Australia’s safety and national security will be brought to account for their actions.